Grateful: Day 10: Innocence

Well, I had pre-written my Day 10 post as a "thankful for internet access", which I am super grateful for..but I had to re-write this post and blog about something else that I am grateful for today. With my internet access, and access to FB, I am able to stay in touch with those back home.

My favorite thing about FB, is keeping in touch with my old gymnastics crew--both from club days ( Girls Inc & UCSB Spirals, holla!) and university days ( Go AGS!). Those girls were my sisters for many many years, and many of us continue to be close to this day. We lived, ate and breathed gymnastics. We were in the same boat. Long hours of practice--  up to 30 hours a week during summer-- and make social sacrifices. I did not attend a single high school dance or fotball game, but as I said before, I didn't and still don't feel cheated out of my teen years. I was with my friends. We had each other & still do.

So, imagine the shock when an old club teammate sent out an email with confirmation that our coach had been arrested on 30 counts of child pornography charges this past week. I'm not sure I want to go into detail and ruin anyone's day--but yeah--THIRTY counts and maybe even more than 70 victims over a course of two decades.

I've spent the last 24 hours processing this information--news--whatever you want to call it. I've been in touch with many of the girls I grew up with. Word is spreading like wildfire, but that is what has to happen, right? Just in case there were any girls or boys in my era who were subjects of this terrible terrible occurance.

I am grateful, beyond grateful, actually, that I was never made uncomfortable by my coach. I looked up to him, and still will say with 100% certainty that he was one of the best technical coaches out there. Any good gymnast knows, you ain't nothing without good technique and basics. My brain is ping ponging between my good memories of him as my coach, the image of his mugshot, and the allegations of misconduct. I can't help but replay different situations and wonder why and if what he is being accused of now, was happening then?

So, today, I am grateful that I made it through my teen years with my innocence.

My heart goes out to those children affected in the current investigation, as well as any other victims over the years.